C H A P T E R 3 - Setting the Link Rate for Each Tray and Powering On the Array

C H A P T E R 3

Setting the Link Rate for Each Tray and Powering On the Array

This chapter describes initial tray power-on procedures. Perform the following procedures in the order listed:

Before Powering On

Setting the Link Rate for Each Tray

Powering On the Array

Checking the Link Rate for Each Port

Powering Off the Array

Next Steps

Before Powering On

You can set up a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server to issue the IP address to each controller. If a DHCP server is not available, the controller tray defaults to internal static IP addresses. (See Configuring the IP Address of the Array Controllers for details.)

For instructions on how to set up the DHCP server, see Configuring a DHCP Server.

Setting the Link Rate for Each Tray

The Tray Link Rate switch on each tray enables you to set the data transfer rate to 4 Gbits/second or 2 Gbits/second for drives on the tray.

Note - The Tray Link Rate switch does not affect the data rate of host ports.

If the array has one or more disk drives that operate at 2 Gbits/second, set the Tray Link Rate switch on all trays to 2 Gbits/second. If all disk drives in the array operate at 4 Gbits/second, set the Tray Link Rate switches to 4 Gbits/second.

Note - Change the position of a Tray Link Rate switch only when the tray is powered off.

To set the link rate for each tray:

1. Locate the Tray Link Rate switch at the lower right front of the tray (FIGURE 3-1).

FIGURE 3-1 Tray Link Rate Switch

Figure showing removal of the switch cover to access the link rate switch.

2. Do one of the following:

To set the default link rate for the tray to 4 Gbits/second, slide the Tray Link Rate switch to the left position.

To set the default link rate for the tray to 2 Gbits/second, slide the Tray Link Rate switch to the right position.

Powering On the Array

Use this procedure to turn power on for all trays installed in the cabinet (FIGURE 3-2).

Note - The order in which you power up the trays is important. Be sure to power on the controller tray last in order to ensure that the disks in the expansion trays have enough time to spin completely before being scanned by the redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controllers in the controller tray.

FIGURE 3-2 Tray Power Connectors and Switches

1. Prepare the power cables as specified in Connecting the Power Cables.

2. Turn on the cabinet circuit breakers, if applicable.

3. Press the power switches at the back of each expansion tray to the On position.

4. Press each power switch at the back of the controller tray to the On position.

While the tray powers on, the green and amber LEDs on the front and back of the controller tray turn on and off intermittently. Depending on your configuration, it can take several minutes for the tray to power on. When the power-on sequence is complete, the controller tray ID indicates 85.

5. Check the status of each tray.

After the power-on sequence is complete, confirm the following:

The green OK/Power LEDs on each drive in the tray are steady on.

The green OK/Power LED on the tray is steady on.

If all tray and drive Ok/Power LEDs are steady green and the amber Service Required LEDs are off, the power-on sequence is complete and no faults have been detected.

Checking the Link Rate for Each Port

Verify the expected link rate for each port. Link rate indicators for the expansion ports are located at the back of the controller tray (FIGURE 1-4) and the expansion tray (FIGURE 1-7).

Note - The host port indicators at the back of the controller tray (FIGURE 1-4) cannot be verified until the hosts are connected (See Connecting Data Hosts).

Powering Off the Array

The array rarely needs to be powered off. You remove power only when you plan to physically move the array to another location.

To power off the array, do the following:

1. Stop all I/O from the hosts, if connected, to the storage system.

2. Wait approximately 2 minutes until all disk drive LEDs have stopped flashing.

Note - If Media Scan is enabled (the default), the disk drive LEDs will continue to flash after the 2-minute period has elapsed. By waiting the 2-minute period, you ensure that the data residing in cache has been written to disk. The LED flash rate during a media scan (slow, periodic blink) is different from the flash rate of I/O (fast, random).

After the 2-minute period, data residing in cache is written to disk and the battery mechanisms are disengaged.

3. Check the Cache Active LED on the controller (FIGURE 1-4) to determine if any outstanding cache needs to be written.

If the LED is on, there is still data that needs to be flushed and written to disk.

4. Ensure that the Cache Active LED is no longer flashing before powering off the array.

5. Press each power switch at the back of the controller tray to the Off position.

6. Press the power switches at the back of each expansion tray to the Off position.

Next Steps

Now you are ready to connect the management host and data hosts, as described in Chapter 4.